Standard Lemma guide

payload

noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈpeɪloʊd/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪləʊd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P EY1 L OW2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

That part of a cargo that produces revenue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The total weight of passengers, crew, equipment, and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

That part of a rocket, missile, propelled stinger, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance, such as a warhead or satellite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The functional part of a computer virus or another type of malware program, rather than the part that spreads it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The actual data in a data stream.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: communication, communications

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

goods carried by a large vehicle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cargo, lading, freight, load, loading, shipment, consignment

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: merchandise, ware, product

7

noun

Meaning 7

the front part of a guided missile or rocket or torpedo that carries the nuclear or explosive charge or the chemical or biological agents

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: warhead, load

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: explosive

Narrower terms: atomic warhead, nuclear warhead, thermonuclear warhead, nuke

History

Etymology

From pay + load. From the early 20th century.

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: полезен товар (polezen tovar) — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Catalan: càrrega útil — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Dutch: lading — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Finnish: hyötykuorma — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • French: fret — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • French: charge utile — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Georgian: მარგი ტვირთი (margi ṭvirti) — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • German: Nutzlast — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Hungarian: hasznos teher — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Norwegian Bokmål: nyttelast — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: nyttelast — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Russian: полезная нагру́зка (poleznaja nagrúzka) — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Spanish: cargamento útil — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Spanish: cargamento cobrable — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Spanish: cargamento cobradero — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Swedish: nyttolast — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Turkish: uçuş yükü — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Ukrainian: ко́ри́сне наванта́ження (kórýsne navantážennja) — that part of a cargo that produces revenue
  • Chinese Mandarin: 裝載量 /装载量 (zhuāngzàiliàng) — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Chinese Mandarin: 載荷 /载荷 (zàihè) — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Finnish: hyötykuorma — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • French: charge utile — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • German: Nutzlast — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Italian: carico — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Italian: carico utile — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Norwegian: nyttelast — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Russian: полезная нагру́зка (poleznaja nagrúzka) — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Swedish: nyttolast — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Turkish: uçuş yükü — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Ukrainian: ко́ри́сне наванта́ження (kórýsne navantážennja) — the total weight of passengers, crew, equipment and cargo carried by an aircraft or spacecraft
  • Chinese Mandarin: 彈頭 /弹头 (dàntóu) — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Finnish: hyötykuorma — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • French: charge utile — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • German: Nutzlast — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Norwegian: nyttelast — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Russian: боезаря́д (bojezarjád) — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Russian: боева́я ча́сть (bojevája částʹ) — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Swedish: nyttolast — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • Turkish: uçuş yükü — that part of a rocket, missile, or torpedo that is not concerned with propulsion or guidance
  • French: charge utile — the functional part of a computer virus rather than the part that spreads it
  • Norwegian: skadelast — the functional part of a computer virus rather than the part that spreads it
  • Finnish: tietosisältö — the actual data in a data stream
  • French: charge utile — the actual data in a data stream
  • Hungarian: hasznos adat — the actual data in a data stream
  • Italian: carico utile — the actual data in a data stream
  • Norwegian: datalast — the actual data in a data stream
  • Russian: полезная нагру́зка (poleznaja nagrúzka) — the actual data in a data stream
Real reading context

payload in complete knowledge articles